Recent advances in electrochemical C–H chalcogenation (O/S/Se) of heteroaromatics

Abstract

Chalcogenated heteroaromatics containing C–O/S/Se bonds are widely prevalent in natural products, medicines, and bioactive structures, and numerous elegant methodologies for the direct synthesis of these compounds have been developed in an electrochemical C–H chalcogenation fashion, as it utilizes electrons as a clean, sustainable, and traceless reagent instead of transition metal oxidants or reductants. This review summarizes the recent advances (from 2017 to early 2025) in the fascinating field of electrochemical synthesis of chalcogenated heteroaromatics, which are categorized by the source of chalcogenides involved. The review aims to provide readers with a more comprehensive understanding of the advances in this exciting field.